The interior of the Audi S3 is spartan but tastefully sporty.
The Basics
› Model: 2017 Audi S3 Quattro› Engine: 2.0-liter, four-cylinder, turbo› Fuel economy: 31 mpg highway, 23 mpg city› Local dealer: Audi Chattanooga, 6001 International Drive› Price: MSRP $49,900
View other columns by Mark Kennedy
The Audi S3 Quattro sedan is an unpretentious little bullet.
But for a S3 tail badge and an fancy wheel package, you might mistake the S3 for the more pedestrian Audi A3 compact sedan, the German car-maker’s entry-level vehicle.
Any mechanical similarity with the A3 is quickly dispelled when you put your right foot into the high-performance S3, unleashing a swarm of bees under the hood and propelling the car from zero-to-60 miles per hour in less than five seconds. This blistering performance is secured through tubocharging and the S3’s standard Quattro all-wheel-drive system.
With a base price of $42,900, and an “as tested” bottom line of $49,900 in top Prestige trim, the S3 is a bit pricey for the segment, which includes the Subaru WRX STI and the S3’s corporate cousin, the Volkswagen Golf R. But few performance compacts have as much technology per square inch as the S3. Plus you get the cache of owning an Audi, one of the fastest growing luxury brands in the world.